Predeal Pass

Predeal Pass is a mountain pass situated at an altitude of 1,033 m, on the boundary between the southern group of the Eastern Carpathians and the eastern group of the Southern Carpathians. Known before 1918 as Timiș Pass, it connects the Brașov Depression — via the Timiș valley to the north — with southern Romania, via the Prahova valley to the south. The pass lies at the contact point between the Postăvarul Massif and the Munții Baiului (Gârbovei), between the valleys of Râșnoava (to the south-southwest) and Timișul Sec de Sus (to the north-northeast). To the west lies the Fitifoiului Ridge of the Postăvarul Massif, and to the east the Susai Ridge of Munții Baiului. Further to the west, beyond the valleys, rise the Piatra Mare Massif and the Bucegi Massif. The pass also marks the boundary between Brașov County (to the north) and Prahova County (to the south), and is one of the most important and heavily used Carpathian crossing points in Romania. It is traversed by National Road 1 (which here coincides with European Road E60) and by CFR Railway Main Line 300, with the nearest railway station being that of Predeal itself. The town of Predeal, which developed around the pass and is included within its area, is the highest locality in Romania, at an average altitude of approximately 1,040 m — an important mountain tourism centre and climatic resort. First documented in 1358, when King Louis I of Hungary granted Saxon merchants from Brașov "free passage" along this route, the pass was initially a less frequently used path, accessible only to pack animal convoys. Nearby are the passes of Predeluș (to the east) and Giuvala/Bran (to the west). Access is via DN1 (E60), with the distance from Brașov being approximately 25–28 km and from Sinaia approximately 18 km.